Illuminating device



oct. 8,1929.

M. H. SHOENBERG El' AL ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Ju1y'25, 1927 Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE MILTON H. SHOENBERG AND LESTER SCHON,`GF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA; SAID SCI-IGN ASSIGNOR T SAID SHOENBERG ILLUMINATING DEVICE Application 'tiled July 25,

j rIhis invention relates generally to devices for obtaining novel illuminating effects, and is particularly applicable for advertising and display purposes. It is an object of this invention to devise novel means for securing color changes in the illumination of a lampl globe. Y It is a further object of this invention to devise a novel display device incorporating an electric lamp globe which is caused to.

recurrently change its color of illumination.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a novel illuminating device which will utilize a pair of alternately energized lamps for effecting recurrent changes in the color of the illumination of one of the lamp globes. Further objects of this invention will appear from the following description in which we have set forth the preferred embodiment of our invention. It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be.F accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art.

Referring to the drawing: n

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating the complete display device incorporating this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the device shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the housing being broken away.

Fig. `3 is a top planview of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing a modified form of display device incorporating the invention.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating the manner in which the electrical lamps are energized. f

The invention may be outlined briefly as comprising an `electrical lamp having afrosted globe, which is adapted to be directly illuminated by diffusing light projected from a camouflaged source. Means is provided for supplying current to thelamp filament at recurrent intervals so that the lamp globe is alternately illuminated by current applied to its filament, and by diffusing light received from the camouflaged source. The light projected into the globe is preferably o a color which contrasts with the usual 1927. serial No, 208,236.

there is shown an electric lamp of stand` ard construction, preferably of the type which has a frosted or ground glass globe. Lamp 10 may be conveniently mounted as by means of areCeptaCle 11 which is provided upon the base 12. As an example of advertising matter which may be displayed in conjunction with the illuminating device, I have shown a card 13 having advertising matter printed upon its front surface. YThis advertising card may be conveniently retained in position by means of the hood 14, which is extended upwardly from the base 12.

In that portion of the card 13 which is directly behind the lamp globe 10, there is provided a window 16 thru which light may be projected from the interior of the hood 14.

This window for example may consist merely of a metal tube 17 inserted thru card 13, and preferably contains a transparent or translucent colored screen 18. As a source of light for projection thru the window 16, in that form of the inventionfshown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, I have shown the use ofanother electrical lamp 19 which is positioned within the hood 11i directly behind the card 13. Lamp 19 may likewise be removably secured within the electric lamp receptacle 21 supported by the base 12. that light from the lamp 19 will be projected directly thru window 16 and will be diffused thruout the surface of the frosted globe oflamp 10. When the globe of lamp 10 is illuminated by diffusing light from an exterior source, the color of its illuminationwill of course depend upon the color of screen 18, but when lamp 10 is illuminated by cur- It will be apparent Cal rent supplied to the same, it will change to the color of its normal illumination. To obtain a varying color effect in the illumination cgt the globe of lamp 10, we therefore supply current to the lilament of lamp 10 at recurrent intervals.

To obtain the most strikingl etiect and in order to consume the smallest amount of current, current is preferably supplied to lamps 10 and 19 alternately so that when lamp 1() is illuminated by its lament, lamp 19 is de- .e-nergized. AA suitable circuit 'for obtaining this result is shown in Fig. 5. One terminal of each ot' lamps 10 and 19 is connected to one oi" the current supply lines, say line Ll, while the other current supply line L2 is connected to the other lamp terminals thru a suitable continuous ope 'ating switch 23. This switch for example may comprise the movable switch members 24 cooperating with a pair of relatively stationary contacts 9.6 and 27.` Switch member 24A is connected to line L, and is adapted. to be moved first into contact with switch contact 26 to illuminate lamp 19, and then in contact with switch contact 2T to illuminate lamp 10. For moving switch member 24 we may provide suitable means such as a motor 28 operating a crank or eccentric 29 connected with switch member 24 by link '31. In place otl a motor operated switch, it is obvious that we may substitute a thermally operated` switch or a bi-metallic circuit interrupter.

To briefly review the operation of the device, if say a red color screen 18 is employed when current is supplied to lamp 10, the globe oi this lamp is illuminated in its normal manner to give a whitish light. However when the supply of current is interrupted to lamp 10 and current is supplied to lamp 19, the globe ot lamp 10 immediately glows with a reddish color, somewhat like the illumination eiiect secured by a neon or other gas discharge lamp. rIhe sudden changes in color and characteristics ot the illumination produced by the globe ot lamp 10 will attract much attention from the public, thus enhancing the advertising value oi, the card 13.

Instead of having only one Ytrosted globe appear outside of the advertising card 13, we may provide two lamps of the same character positioned outside of the card so that the color appears to travel from one lamp globe to the other. For example as shown in Fig. 4 we have provided two electric lamps 33`and 34 having frosted globes, and both being positioned in front of the advertising card 36. The interior of the hood 37,-corresponding to the hood 14 previously described,-is provided with reliecting mirrors 38 and 39 arranged at an angle ot substantially 45 degrees with the line of centers of lamps 33 and 34. 1lWindows 41 and 42 are provided inl the card 36 so as to expose a portion ot each lamp globe to the interior of hood 37. Because of the positioning of mirrors 38 and 39, light projected from one lamp, say lamp 33, is projected into the hood 37, reliected by mirrors 33 and 39, and projected into the lamp globe 34 thru window 42. A' suitable color screen 43 is positioned so as to intercept the path of the projected light.

With the arrangement such as shown in Fig. 4, lamp 33 will lirst be illuminated by dill'used light projected :trom the directly illuminated lamp 34. However when the lilament of lamp 33 is directly illuminated, it will project its light into the globe of the oeenergized lamp 34, thus causing the color previously seen in globe 33, to travel to the globe of lamp 34. Switch 23 is preferably constructed so that one lamp is illuminated` substantially the instant the other lamp is deene gized thus making the traveling color eiect more realistic.

lave claim:

1. In an illuminating device, an electric lamp having a frosted globe, means for directing colored light from a camouiiaged source into said globe to indirectly illuniinate the same, and means for recurrently supplying current to said lamp to directly illuminate the same at recurrent intervals whereby the illumination afforded by the lamp globe recurrently changes color. f

2. In an illuminating, device, a pair of electric lamp globes, one of which is frosted, means tor alternately supplying current to said globes to illuminate the same, and means including a colored filter screen for projecting light from one lamp into thev globe of the frosted lamp, whereby the frosted lamp globe is alternately illuminated by current supplied to the same and indirectly by colored light projected from the other lamp.

3. In a display device, an electric lamp having a frosted globe, a screen positioned adjacent said globe, a window in said screen serving to expose aportion of said globe to the rear side of the screen, means for projecting light into said globe thru said window whereby the globe is indirectly illuminated to secure a glowing effect, and means for recurrently supplying current to said lamp to directly illumina-te the same at re current intervals.

4. In a display device, an electric lamp having a frosted globe, a display card positioned adjacent said globe, a window in said card serving to expose a portion of said globe to the rear side of the card, means 'for pro. jecting light into said globe thru said window whereby the globe is indirectly illuminated to secure a glowing eiiect, and means for recurrently supplying current to said lamp to directly illuminate the same at recurrentintervals, said lamp when directly illuminated ador-ding an illuminating effect dili'erent from said glowing effect.

5. In a display device, a display card, an electric lamp interrupting the surface of the card containing subject matter to be displayed, said lamp having a frosted globe, said card having a window adjacent said globe,

another lamp adapted to project light thru said window into the frosted globe to secure a glowing eii'ect from said globe, and means for alternately and successively supplying current to said lamps whereby the frosted globe is alternately illuminated by current supplied to the same and by light projected into its globe from the other lamp, said first lamp when directly illuminated by current supplied to the same affording an illuminating eect diierent from said glowing effect.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

- MILTON' H. SHOENBERG. 2o LESTER SCHON. 

